Finding Inner Calm During the Christmas Season
Finding Inner Calm During the Christmas Season
(Without Escaping to a Desert Retreat)
Christmas can be beautiful — and also a lot.
Full calendars, full houses, full inboxes, end-of-year everything… even the things we love can leave our nervous system quietly overwhelmed. If you’ve been feeling a little wired, tired, or stretched thin, you’re not doing anything wrong. You’re human, and it’s December.
Inner calm at this time of year doesn’t come from adding more to your to-do list. It comes from small moments of softness woven into real life.
Here are a few simple, accessible ways to invite more calm into your days — no perfection required.
1. linger in the Exhale
One of the fastest ways to calm your nervous system is through your breath.
Try this a few times a day:
Inhale gently through your nose
Exhale slowly through your nose, a little longer than the inhale
Even three slow breaths like this can help your body shift out of “doing mode” and into a more settled state.
You don’t need a quiet room. You can do this in the car, the kitchen, or while waiting for the kettle to boil.
2. Let the Body Soften Before the Mind
We often try to think our way into calm — but the body usually needs to go first.
Simple things like:
stretching your neck and shoulders
lying on the floor with your legs up the wall
taking a few minutes in child’s pose
can send a powerful signal of safety to your nervous system. When the body softens, the mind often follows.
This is one of the reasons Yin yoga can feel so deeply calming - it gives the body time and space to let go.
3. Lower the Sensory Volume
December is loud — visually, socially, emotionally.
Try lowering the sensory load where you can:
dim the lights in the evening
light a candle instead of turning on every lamp
turn music off for part of the day
put your phone in another room while you eat
These small choices create pockets of quiet that your nervous system will quietly thank you for.
4. Choose One Non-Negotiable Pause
Rather than aiming for “more self-care”, choose one small pause you protect each day.
It might be:
five minutes on your mat
a slow cup of tea
a gentle stretch before bed
lying down and doing absolutely nothing
Consistency matters more than duration. Calm builds through repetition, not grand gestures.
5. Create a Simple Ritual
Ritual doesn’t have to be complicated. It just means doing something with intention.
Lighting a candle before you stretch.
Taking a breath before bed.
Rolling out your mat and knowing this is your time.
These moments help your body recognise safety, predictability, and rest — especially during a season that can feel anything but predictable.
A Candlelit Moment to Return To
If you joined me for the Candlelit Yin Yoga class, I hope it serves you well — not just in that moment, but as something you can return to whenever you need to soften.
Let it be a place you revisit on busy evenings, when your nervous system feels a little frayed, or when your body is quietly asking for stillness. The intention behind this practice was never perfection or flexibility, but ease - the kind that settles slowly and lingers.
May it continue to offer you a deep exhale, a sense of being held, and a reminder that rest is always available to you.
Namaste,
Jane 🕯️✨
